ZenWiFi BT8 disconnection loop iPhone and Mac

[deiacovo]

I've 4 BT8s configured in router mode and connected with an ethernet backhaul. My iPhone 14pro and my Mac (M2) frequently (daily) enter in a loop of connection and disconnection from Wifi (every 2-3 seconds). This happens also if I'm in the same room of the main router or of a mesh node.

I've a standard configuration with a single SSID.

The only way to mitigate the problem is to delete the network from my iPhone configuration and configure it again.

What can I do?

[Aureliannn_ASUS]

Hi @deiacovo ,

To better assist you with the unstable Wi-Fi connection issue, we would like you to confirm the following:

1. Separate SSIDs: We recommend that you set different SSID names for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands of your ZenWiFi BT8. For example, name 2.4GHz as "Home_2.4G" and 5GHz as "Home_5G". This way you can manually select the more stable 5GHz band connection and avoid frequent switching between bands.
2. Reset nodes: Reset all nodes to factory settings and re-add them to the AiMesh system. Ensure that the settings of each node are consistent with the main router.
3. Smart Connect function: You can try turning the "Smart Connect" function off or on to see if it affects the connection stability.
4. System updates: Please ensure that your iPhone and Mac operating systems are updated to the latest versions to ensure that the Wi-Fi drivers are up-to-date.

[Wireless Router] When Standard Reset Isn’t Working: Hard Factory Reset - Models list | Official Sup...

[Wireless Router] How to improve Wi-Fi Connection | Official Support | ASUS Global

Thank you.

[deiacovo]

Thank you for the follow-up. I answer per points:

1. I'd like not to separate SSID. This is an important feature of the router and I'm not using a "strange" or cheap device (I use iPhone and Mac)
2. Done. I've reset all the nodes and re-added them to the network
3. How do I switch-off the feature?
4. I've checked. As you will probably know the router has only one firmware available and it's dated on november 2024

Sadly the problem persists. If you can tell me how to test point 3, I'll try.

Thank you,

Marco

[jzchen]

1/3.  You should probably smart connect 2.4 and 5 GHz, but separate/remove 6 GHz.  Per Apple the SSIDs of both 5 GHz and 6 GHz should be the same as well as password.  (This is because 6E Apple clients can do multi-connection I believe, but there is only one of SSID and password).  If the ASUS router app forces different SSID use the Web GUI to do this.

Turn MLO off and disable WiFi 7 settings as it is not quite backwards compatible.  Apple 6E will not connect to 6 GHz unless the settings are just right.

Turn on  6 GHz Preferred Scanning Channels (PSC) check box.

Your Apple clients should then connect to 6 GHz when within range.  (The PSC setting you can toggle ON and OFF to verify it is helping)...

[deiacovo]

Devices that Sto arrivando! Having problem do not support 6Ghz band (iPhone 14pro and MacBook Air M2).